This is a general outline of the milestones on the road to reading success. Keep in mind that kids develop at different paces and spend varying amounts of time at each stage. If you have concerns, talk to your child's doctor, teacher, or the reading specialist at school. Early intervention is key in helping kids who are struggling to read.

Parents and teachers can find appropriate resources for children as early as pre-kindergarten. Quality childcare centers, pre-kindergarten programs, and homes full of language and book reading can build an environment for reading milestones to happen.

Infancy (Up to Age 1)

Kids usually begin to:

imitate sounds they hear in language

respond when spoken to

look at pictures

reach for books and turn the pages with help

respond to stories and pictures by vocalizing and patting the pictures

Toddlers (Ages 1-3)

Kids usually begin to:

answer questions about and identify objects in books — such as "Where's the cow?" or "What does the cow say?"

name familiar pictures

use pointing to identify named objects

pretend to read books

finish sentences in books they know well

scribble on paper

know names of books and identify them by the picture on the cover

turn pages of board books

have a favorite book and request it to be read often

Early Preschool (Age 3)

Kids usually begin to:

explore books independently

listen to longer books that are read aloud

retell a familiar story

recite the alphabet

begin to sing the alphabet song with prompting and cues

make continuous symbols that resemble writing

imitate the action of reading a book aloud

Late Preschool (Age 4)

Kids usually begin to:

recognize familiar signs and labels, especially on signs and containers

make up rhymes or silly phrases

recognize and write some of the letters of the alphabet (a good goal to strive for is 12-15 letters)